DALLAS, TX — Deep Ellum Brewing Company makes some of the best-known craft beers in Texas. And as of June 1, a distribution partnership with Ben E. Keith Beverages is bringing Deep Ellum IPA, Dallas Blonde and other local favorites to a larger network of venues — including arenas, stadiums, festivals and convenience stores throughout Dallas and Collin counties.
The distribution agreement expands the brewer’s previous business relationship with Ben E. Keith Beverages, which has served as its distribution partner in the greater Austin area since late 2013.
“I’ve always been drawn to Ben E. Keith by the service they provide, their attention to the details, and the family feel of their culture,” said Deep Ellum Brewing Company Founder and Chief Evangelist John Reardon. “This is just the latest evolution of a relationship that lets us focus on making exceptional beer, while they focus on distributing that beer to more of the people who are looking for our brands. We’re grateful to the bar owners, restaurants and shopkeepers who were already with us before the announcement, and we’re looking forward to providing even greater service to our longtime accounts as we grow.”
As the nation’s third-largest independent beer wholesaler, Ben E. Keith Beverages has the reach and resources to bring Deep Ellum Brewing Company to accounts that are traditionally difficult for a small self- distributed brewery to service, including convenience stores like RaceTrac and 7-Eleven. The distributor also has relationships with larger venues and events such as the American Airlines Center and the State Fair of Texas, which provides Deep Ellum Brewing Company with access to a whole new range of opportunities.
The latest distribution agreement comes on the heels of a newly signed lease agreement for a 16,000- square-foot space that doubles the brewer’s current footprint, adding much-needed space for barrel aging, an extensive sour program and other initiatives to support the wider distribution afforded by Ben E. Keith. In fact, the space has already enabled brewers to produce the newest addition to the Deep Ellum Brewing Company lineup — Easy Peasy IPA, a session IPA at 5 percent alcohol by volume brewed with lemon and tangerine peels with notes of Simcoe, Citra and Ahtanhum hops.
“The tangerine complements the hops unlike anything I’ve ever tasted,” Reardon said. “If there was ever an IPA for summer, this would be it.”
According to Flint Prewitt, vice president of sales and operations for Ben E. Keith, the brewery’s commitment to beverage innovation continues to enhance the brand.
“Deep Ellum Brewing Company continues to bring dynamic brands and great liquid to the local craft beer scene,” Prewitt said. “We’re honored to represent them in Dallas and beyond.”
About Deep Ellum Brewing Co.
Based in the legendary blues-born and rock-raised urban district known as Deep Ellum, this trend-setting Dallas brewery creates smooth and assertive craft beers worthy of the area’s eclectic heritage. Since the company’s founding in 2011, Deep Ellum Brewing Co. has crafted an award-winning roster of year-round, seasonal and limited-release brews, including Deep Ellum IPA, Dallas Blonde, Double Brown Stout, Four Swords Belgian Style Quad, Oak Cliff Coffee Ale, and this summer’s newest addition — Easy Peasy IPA. To learn more about Deep Ellum Brewing Co. beers, retail availability and brewery tours, follow Deep Ellum Brewing Co. at Facebook.com/deepellumbrewing, Twitter.com/deepellumbrewco and www.deepellumbrewing.com.
About Ben E. Keith Beverages
Ben E. Keith Company, established in 1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1933. Today, Ben E. Keith Company’s Beverage Division is the third-largest independent beer wholesaler in the country. The company also distributes import beers, craft beers, wine products and nonalcoholic beverages. With 14 Sales and Distribution Centers in Texas including Abilene, Austin, Brownwood, Commerce, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Kerrville, Llano, Palestine, San Antonio and Waco, the company operates throughout the state of Texas. For more information, please visit www.BenEKeith.com/beverage. Follow us on Facebook.com/benekeith, Twitter.com/BeneKeith_Bevs.